According to Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts is "learning basically two positions." "There's some tight end, and there's some wide receiver," said Robinson in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "So, he's got a lot on his plate. I'm just excited to see him continue to get more comfortable in the system...We'll move him around the formation. We'll use him as a blocker. We'll use him as a receiver. We'll use him all across the board." The 23-year-old has appeared in 44 games for the Falcons over the last three seasons, amassing 2,049 yards and six touchdowns off 149 catches. But with a new coaching staff in Atlanta, it's safe to say that Pitts could be in line for the best year of his career, assuming he remains involved in the offense as advertised during the offseason.
Kyle Pitts Feels Like A Rookie Learning New Offense
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts called himself a "super rookie" as he enters the fourth year of his NFL career in 2024. "I'm not a rookie rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh," Pitts said. The former first-round pick has a new head coach in Raheem Morris, a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson and a new quarterback in Kirk Cousins this year. Pitts had 1,027 receiving yards in his rookie year in 2021 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Year 2, and he wasn't 100% in 2023 despite playing in all 17 games. The 23-year-old is fully healthy now and taking part in OTAs this offense as he works to learn the new offense and gain chemistry with Cousins. Pitts could easily have his best season to date in 2024 if both he and Cousins (coming off a torn Achilles) can stay healthy.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts shined as a rookie in 2021, catching 68 passes for 1,026 yards and one touchdown after being selected No. 4 overall. His last two campaigns have left a lot to be desired, as he failed to surpass 700 yards or become a major factor in the end zone in 2022 or 2023. However, he is still just 23 years old and is embracing a fresh start with a new quarterback and coaching staff in 2024. "I would say I'm a super rookie," Pitts said Tuesday, via the team's official site. "I'm not a rookie. But we're all in this new offense, new regime, new schedule. We're all in this fresh." Pitts' 2021 success came with Matt Ryan under center, and poor quarterback play from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke can help explain his lack of production. The Falcons signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year deal and drafted Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 overall pick this offseason. Despite his lackluster showings of late, he is being selected as the TE7 off the board in early FFPC fantasy drafts. He remains a clear TE1 candidate and has top-five overall upside in his new offense.
The Atlanta Falcons picked up the 2025 fifth-year option on tight end Kyle Pitts on Monday, according to a source. Although the former fourth overall pick in 2021 out of Florida hasn't exactly lived up to his draft status, there's no way the Falcons weren't going to pick up his option. Pitts was a Pro Bowler in his rookie year, when he went for over 1,000 yards receiving, but he played in only 10 games due to injury in 2022 and has underwhelmed with six total touchdowns in his three NFL seasons. Atlanta's QB situation hasn't helped his cause, though. With a new coaching staff in town and with quarterback Kirk Cousins running the offense in 2024, Pitts' fantasy stock is trending up despite back-to-back disappointing campaigns.
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said that the team has a lot of faith in tight end Kyle Pitts now that he's fully healthy. Pitts played in all 17 games last year, but he wasn't fully healthy for much of the season after recovering from an MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered in Week 11 of 2022. The 23-year-old former first-rounder had a frustrating 53-667-3 line in 2023, but he's already looking like a tight end to target in 2024 fantasy drafts. Not only will Pitts be another year beyond his knee injury, but Jonnu Smith is now gone, and new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is expected to use Pitts all over the field this year. Pitts will be relatively cheap in drafts, too, so he's shaping up as an excellent value play. However, at the end of the day, how productive Pitts will be could depend on what quarterback Atlanta brings in.
Atlanta Falcons new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson sees tight end Kyle Pitts as very versatile. He's mainly been used in the passing game and had 667 receiving yards on 53 catches in his third NFL season in 2023. Pitts can also be an asset when it comes to blocking in the running game, too. "We're not oblivious to the fact of his skill sets, what he does bring to the team from a receiving standpoint, so there are a lot of things that you can do to be creative and use his skill set in the pass game," new tight ends coach Kevin Koger said. "But with him and the way we're going to run the ball and the athleticism he does have, there are a lot of things he can do in the run game to help us out to win football games." It sounds like Pitts is going to be moved around a lot, and the new coaching staff should be able to use him more effectively than Arthur Smith did in his three years with Pitts on the team.
Zac Robinson Views Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts As Versatile
New Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson expressed his excitement about working with both running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts in 2024, but he didn't go into specifics about how they'd be used. "I view those guys as versatile," Robinson said. "We will have formational versatility to move them all over and try to get the most out of what they do." Former head coach Arthur Smith was often criticized for not employing Robinson and Pitts the right way last year. Robinson, a first-round pick, fell just short of 1,000 rushing yards but made up for it with 58 catches, 487 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his rookie season. Pitts, also a former first-rounder, worked mostly out of the slot and finished with 53 catches, 667 yards and three TDs. With what's expected to be a much more aggressive offense under Robinson, both Robinson and Pitts will be more attractive in fantasy.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts suffered a PCL injury beyond the MCL repair in his right knee, which ended his 2022 season. Pitts said his knee is feeling better and he considers it a success that he was able to play all 17 games in 2023. He was targeted 90 times and had 53 catches for 667 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. He had four games over 50-plus receiving yards and five games with under 30 yards. It was far from his rookie season, when he had 68 catches for 1,026 yards and a touchdown, but considering his major knee injury the year prior, it wasn't all that bad. Heading into his fourth NFL campaign, he'll have a new head coach, which could mean a different role entirely. Depending on who the Falcons bring in, Pitts could end up being a sneaky value target at the tight end position in 2024 fantasy drafts.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts wrote on his Instagram account that he had surgery on both the MCL and PCL in his knee after getting hurt in Week 11 of the 2022 season. It was previously reported that he had only torn his MCL. Pitts had a career-high three touchdowns in 17 games in his third year in the league in 2023, but overall it was another disappointing campaign for the former first-rounder with 53 receptions on 90 targets for 667 yards. PCL injuries are more complex and have a slower recovery time, so it's possible that Pitts was playing at less than 100 percent for a big chunk of this past season. If the 23-year-old is fully healthy in 2024 with a new head coach that can utilize him more than Arthur Smith did, he could be a fantastic value pick at the tight end position in fall fantasy drafts.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts struggled during Sunday's game, which is a fitting way to end his 2023 campaign. It was somehow a more productive season for Pitts, but didn't really feel like that. On Sunday, Pitts hauled in two of his three targets for 27 yards in the Week 18 loss to the New Orleans Saints. He finished the season with 53 catches on 90 targets for 667 yards and three touchdowns. Pitts has a ton of skill, but has been unable to reach his full potential. It's unclear if the Falcons plan to keep head coach Arthur Smith around for another season. If they do, fantasy managers shouldn't bother putting Pitts in the TE1 discussion next season.
